Breeders/owners need to be aware that a small number of Poms have been identified as having Chairi-like Malformation and Syringomyelia and have been scored as such under the KC/BVA scheme. The following guidance is given with the aim of trying to prevent this debilitating and heartbreaking condition being spread any further through the UK Pomeranian gene pool.

The results of Poms who have been screened can be found on the Kennel Club’s Mate Select website in the Health Checker area. You will need the full and correct registered name to access this information but this facility is open to all and can be used to check the immediate ancestors of your Poms and/or any stud dogs who are being considered. Currently 8 Poms have been screened.

The following advice is offered to members and others breeding or owning Pomeranians:

Any Pom showing clinical symptoms of SM should be seen by a vet and referred for screening and grading under the KC/BVA scheme.

Any Pom found to have a grading for CM or SM should not be bred from.

Close relatives (Sires, Dams, Siblings etc) of Poms who have gradings other than Clear for either CM or SM should themselves be screened prior to being bred from, or the decision should be taken not to breed.

Whilst it is seen as laudable for owners of unaffected Poms to also go through the screening process, as this process involves anesthesia and its consequent risks and is also costly, the Club recognises that members may not wish or be in a position to do this. However, we would ask that you study carefully the description below and that if you have any Poms showing these symptoms you both seek veterinary advice and also mention CM and SM to your vet as a possible diagnosis you would wish explored.

What is Syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia (SM) is an extremely serious condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain. It is also known as "neck scratcher's disease", because one of its common signs is scratching in the air near the neck.

The back half of the dog’s skull typically may be too small to accommodate all the brain’s cerebellum, which may also be too large, so it squeezes through the foramen magnum – the hole at the back of the skull – partially blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) down the spinal cord. The variable pressure created by the abnormal flow of CSF is believed to create the SM cavities – called syrinx – in the spinal cord.

SM is rare in most breeds but has become very widespread in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and has been found in other breeds, particularly Toy Breeds, including a small number of Pomeranians. However, as has been found in Cavaliers, the spread of CM/SM through a gene pool can happen very quickly. Research has shown that there is a strong link between Chiari-like malformation (CM or CLM) – also known as caudal occipital malformation syndrome (COMS) or occipital hypoplasia (OH) and Syringomyelia. The severity and extent of Syringomyelia also appears to get worse in each succeeding generation. CM/SM is worldwide in scope and not limited to any country, breeding line, or kennel, and experts report that it is believed to be an inherited trait.

Symptoms

SM is seldom detected in young puppies, as symptoms of it usually are not evident before the age of six months and may not occur until years later.

Pain is the most important clinical sign of the disorder. Symptoms may vary widely among different dogs, but the earliest sign is often that the dog feels hypersensitivity in its neck area, causing in some, an uncontrollable urge to scratch at the neck and shoulders. This is usually followed by severe pain developing around the dog’s head, neck, and shoulders, causing it yelp or scream. As the disease progresses, it destroys portions of the dog's spinal cord, and is so painful that the affected dog may contort its neck and even sleep and eat only with its head held high. The dog's legs may become progressively weaker, so that walking becomes increasingly difficult. Some dogs deteriorate to the point of paralysis.

As more information becomes available the advice given on this page will be up-dated.

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